Plant an Economical Garden by Starting Your Seeds Indoors

Starting your seeds indoors is a great economical way to begin a garden. Packets of seeds are cheaper than purchasing plants, so by planning your garden while the weather is cold and nurturing your seedlings in the protection of the indoors, you can save a considerable amount of money on your gardening adventure.

Choose seeds you would normally purchase as plants and also those plants you have always wanted to try, but have difficulty finding at your local nursery. Consider how long it takes for each of your plant choices to bloom or produce a vegetable. By starting your seeds indoors, you can control each plants growing season and produce an earlier harvest than those purchased at the nursery.

Commercial seed starter mix
Dishpan
Water
Plastic plant trays, peat pots, small plastic pots or recycled food containers
Drink glass or coffee cup
Seeds
Plant labels
Plastic wrap and black plastic bags
Window or grow light
Commercial potting mix
Wood skewer
Spray bottle
Liquid fertilizer

Step 1:
Do not use dirt to plant your seeds in. Purchase a commercial seed starter mix. The lightness of the mix and the special blend of nutrients that are added to it, will insure your seeds will have a successful start. Pour your seed starter soil in a dishpan. Add water to the seed starter and mix thoroughly with your hands. You want the mixture to be moist all the way through, but not dripping water. Squish the soil in your hand. If water drips out, you will need to add more soil mixture or allow it to dry slightly.

Step 2:
Fill plastic plant trays, peat pots, small plastic pots or recycled food containers with the moist starter soil. Use the bottom of a drink glass or coffee cup to lightly tamp down the soil. Fill the containers to to just under a 1/2-inch from the rims. Add more water to the containers before planting the seeds. This will prevent the newly planted seeds from floating around. Excess water will drain out the holes in the container bottoms.

Step 3:
Plant the seeds in the soil mixture, at least an 1/8-inch apart and the recommended depth on the seed package. If there is no depth recommendation, it is best to shallowly plant the seeds. A seed planted too deep may take a long time to germinate or not at all. Label the containers with the name and the date when it was planted..

Step 4:
Tuck your babies in bed. Cover the containers with plastic wrap to keep them warm and to aid in germination. Do not cover tightly. Good air circulation is as important as warmth. If your containers do not allow air in, the moisture will promote mold. Lift a corner of the plastic wrap every day to let air in. If your seed packet indicates they need a dark place to germinate, use a black plastic bag to cover them. Keep the seed containers in a warm, not hot, place. When the seeds begin to sprout, remove the covers and place in a window or under a grow light. The amount of light and dark needed is about 12 hours to 12 hours.

Step 5:
Transplant the seedlings when they sprout their first pair of leaves. Fill a new containers with a commercial potting mix. Lift one section of seedlings at a time, out of their container. Carefully separate the delicate seedlings. Use a wood skewer to poke a hole in the soil of the new container. Insert the roots of the seedling in the hole and lightly press the soil around the stem. When all the seedlings have been transplanted, lightly mist with a water filled spray bottle.

Step 6:
Set the containers in a shallow tray with drain holes. Fill the tray with room temperature water. The seedlings will suck up what they need and the rest will drain away. Do not put the seedlings in sunlight for a few days. Use a weak liquid fertilizer every week until the plants are ready to go outside. When the plants are about 6-inches tall, pinch off the peak. This will encourage a leafier growth. Pinch off the tips of the branches to encourage a more compact size.

Step 7:
When the outside soil temperature becomes warm enough, harden your seedlings by taking your containers outside during the day and back in at night. Start with a few daylight hours outside, gradually working up to all day. When the plants seem well adjusted to the temperature, transplant them into your garden.